Kyler Murray
Quarterback #1
Kyler Murray News
Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson Showing Strong Chemistry
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Justin Jefferson have given the offense some encouraging signs during training camp. MLFootball said the two have "looked elite together," and there have been several plays to back up the growing chemistry. Earlier in camp, Murray gave Jefferson a chance on a deep ball into double coverage during a two-minute drill, and Jefferson went up between two defenders before taking it into the end zone. Murray also found him for about 20 yards on a high-pointed curl Tuesday, the same day he was officially named Minnesota's starting quarterback. Jefferson is coming off a down year by his standards, finishing 2025 with 84 catches for 1,048 yards and only two touchdowns. Murray played just five games for Arizona last season before a foot injury ended his year. There is a long way to go before camp connections mean anything on Sundays, but Murray and Jefferson getting comfortable with each other this quickly is a good start.
Aug 13, 2026 9:28 AM EST
Vikings Name Kyler Murray as Their Starting QB
The Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Things had been trending this way early in training camp, even though J.J. McCarthy had his fair share of positive throws in practice since the start of the summer. The 29-year-old Murray was brought in on a one-year deal in March to push McCarthy for the starting job after McCarthy struggled mightily with accuracy, decision-making, and injuries in 2025 in his first full year as the starter in Minnesota. Murray, the former first overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, has the experience edge, more dual-threat abilities, and has apparently shown enough in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offensive system to win the job early in camp. Murray has high-end rushing upside and will also be working with the best WR duo in his career in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Now that he's officially been named the starter, Murray's fantasy football stock will rise heading into upcoming drafts as a high-end QB2 with upside for QB1 production in his new home with the Vikings.
Aug 11, 2026 8:28 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Outperforms Kyler Murray on Sunday Night
During the team's Sunday Night practice, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had the upper hand over veteran Kyler Murray. McCarthy got off to a red-hot start but cooled off at the end, while Murray threw multiple interceptions. This quarterback controversy appeared to be heading in the former Cardinals quarterback's favor in recent days, but McCarthy is making it interesting as both push to be the starter for the 2026 season. In five games last season, Murray threw for 962 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions, while McCarthy was an interception machine, throwing 17 in 10 games. Although Murray remains the favorite to win the job, both quarterbacks will need to perform in the preseason to be the Week 1 starter.
Aug 9, 2026 6:48 PM EST
Kyler Murray Gains Ground in Vikings' QB Competition
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray turned in one of his best practices of camp Wednesday as he tries to pull ahead of J.J. McCarthy in the starting competition. According to Sports Illustrated, Murray hit Justin Jefferson during one-on-one drills, found Jauan Jennings for a deep touchdown in seven-on-seven work, and connected with a wide-open Tai Felton on a scoring throw of roughly 60 yards during team drills. He later gave Jefferson a chance between two defenders in the two-minute period, and Jefferson came down with the ball for the simulated winning touchdown. Murray also flashed his speed on a scramble after using his legs sparingly earlier in camp. He appeared in only five games for Arizona last season, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions while adding 173 yards and a score on the ground. Minnesota has not named a starter, but this was the kind of practice Murray needed to strengthen his case.
Aug 6, 2026 9:16 AM EST
Kyler Murray the Favorite for Vikings Starting QB Job
Minnesota Vikings writer Will Ragatz reports that several deep balls from quarterback Kyler Murray were the big story over the course of Wednesday's training camp practice, and he also "showed off his legs a few times." Ragatz adds that he expects Murray to win the QB1 job over J.J. McCarthy because of his ability to create explosive plays. The Vikings are splitting first-team reps evenly between Murray and McCarthy early in camp, with both signal-callers having their moments so far. McCarthy has more familiarity with head coach Kevin O'Connell's system, but the 28-year-old Murray has more NFL experience and a better dual-threat skill set with his arm and his legs. The former first overall pick by Arizona in 2019 from the University of Oklahoma has played in under 10 games in two of the last three years due to injuries, and he's never thrown for 4,000 yards in his seven NFL campaigns, but it's quite clear that he gives Minnesota's offense more upside as he looks for a bounce-back campaign in 2026. Murray is one of the more intriguing low-end QB2 targets in superflex leagues with an improved receiving corps compared to what he had in Arizona.
Aug 5, 2026 2:54 PM EST
Kyler Murray Outplays J.J. McCarthy on Saturday, Winning Battle to be Vikings Starter
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy saw its first clear, decisive win during the first four days of camp. The veteran who signed from the Arizona Cardinals had a great day, hitting star wide receiver Justin Jefferson several times and rarely seeing the ball hit the ground during practice. While McCarthy has played well during the first three days of camp, he was shaky on Saturday. While Murray missed most of the 2025 season with a foot injury, McCarthy struggled mightily, throwing 17 interceptions in 10 games. Murray likely holds the edge in this quarterback battle, but the young quarterback should have ample opportunities to win the starting job in Minnesota.
Aug 1, 2026 4:38 PM EST
Kyler Murray Leads Vikings in QB Snaps on Wednesday
ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the Minnesota Vikings had a relatively even split of snaps between quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy in the first training camp practice on Wednesday, but Murray had the slight edge in first-team snaps with 16 to McCarthy's 12. Will Ragatz reported that it was a solid first day for both Murray and McCarthy in their QB1 battle. Murray had some impressive throws, but also some misses. McCarthy has plenty of arm strength, but the Vikings are going to need to see more accuracy to all parts of the field after a pretty disastrous first full season as the starter in 2025. Whoever wins this QB battle will be no more than a QB2 in superflex leagues, but Murray has more NFL experience and fantasy upside as a dual-threat signal-caller with an upgraded receiving corps in his new home. Murray has felt like the favorite going into training camp, but head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't tipping his hand. If Murray wins the starting job, as expected, he'll have QB1 upside, based on matchups, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as his top-two receivers.
Jul 29, 2026 2:10 PM EST
Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy to Rotate With First- and Second-Team Offenses
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy will both receive first-team and second-team repetitions as the competition for the starting job begins in training camp, according to Alec Lewis. Head coach Kevin O'Connell met with every quarterback over the past day and said he has a timeline in place for naming the starter so the team and players have clarity, though he did not reveal a date. Minnesota used a similar rotation during minicamp, and the team has cautioned against drawing conclusions from which quarterback receives more first-team work on a particular day. McCarthy completed 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 10 starts in 2025 while adding 181 rushing yards and four scores. Murray was limited to five games with Arizona, completing 110 of 161 attempts for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 173 yards and one touchdown. The planned rotation confirms that neither quarterback has secured the job, leaving both with considerable fantasy uncertainty until O'Connell makes his decision.
Jul 28, 2026 11:59 AM EST
Kyler Murray, Jordan Addison Have Been Working Together for Two Months
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jordan Addison have been working out together for the last two months in Dallas, Texas, according to Jordan Schultz. Both players also reported to Minnesota early this week to prepare for the start of training camp, and they both have hopes for a big year in 2026. Murray and Addison are motivated to succeed after down years in 2025. The 28-year-old Murray only played in five games due to a foot injury in his final year in Arizona, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma is competing with J.J. McCarthy for the starting QB gig for the Vikes this year, but given his experience and dual-threat abilities, Murray feels like the favorite entering camp. Murray will see his ADP rise if he's named the starter, but right now, he's an intriguing low-cost, low-end QB2 target with upside. Addison, 24, had a career-low 610 receiving yards and only three TDs in 14 games in 2025, but he wasn't helped by the team's lackluster QB play. He's locked in as the WR2 in Minnesota behind Justin Jefferson, and he, too, could be primed for a bounce-back year if Murray wins the job and elevates the passing attack. Addison is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 36 fantasy WR for 2026.
Jul 24, 2026 4:10 PM EST
Quarterback Competition Between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray Will Go "Right Up to the Start" of the Regular Season
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback competition is set to go "right up to the start" of the 2026 regular season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Vikings acquired veteran Kyler Murray over the offseason to compete with incumbent signal-caller J.J. McCarthy, who battled both injuries and underperformance in 2025. Murray was limited to just five games in 2025 by a foot injury and has struggled with inconsistency himself in recent seasons. However, he's demonstrated a much higher ceiling than McCarthy to this point in their respective careers and was a productive dual-threat quarterback as recently as 2024, when he threw for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 572 yards and five scores. Fantasy managers with an interest in Vikings wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and/or Jauan Jennings may be better served if Murray wins the job, as the veteran quarterback likely offers the higher floor. Still, McCarthy is only entering his age-23 season and could be a higher-upside option.
Jul 21, 2026 9:46 AM EST
Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Dead-Even in QB Competition Heading into Camp?
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell wouldn't shed much light on where the quarterback competition stands between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show with training camp quickly approaching later this month, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "Kyler has come in and done a great job," O'Connell said. "J.J., I think, has benefited from it; he's had a really good spring. Carson Wentz is this veteran quarterback in the room," O'Connell said. Some believe that Murray is already the favorite to win the starting job, but O'Connell isn't going to admit it before camp even begins. Murray, 28, flamed out with the Arizona Cardinals and is no stranger to injury, but given his experience and dual-threat abilities, he makes sense as the QB1 to begin the 2026 regular season, and he will have clear bounce-back potential in a better offensive situation in Minnesota with a QB whisperer as his new head coach. In fantasy, Murray is the much more intriguing QB2 option with upside because of his rushing ability. RotoBaller has Murray ranked as the QB19, with McCarthy not even listed among the top-34 signal-callers.
Jul 9, 2026 6:02 PM EST
Kyler Murray Set to Rebuild his Reputation in 2026 in Minnesota?
Quarterback Kyler Murray is in a much better situation with his move this offseason from the Arizona Cardinals to the Minnesota Vikings, where the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to win the QB1 job over former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. The 28-year-old former first overall pick in 2019 out of the University of Oklahoma played in only five games in 2025 in his seventh and final year in the desert due to a foot injury, and he wasn't impressive before the injury, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions on 161 pass attempts. As long as Murray is healthy, a bounce-back season should be coming under QB guru and head coach Kevin O'Connell with an upgraded pass-catching group that includes receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and tight end T.J. Hockenson. The best part for fantasy managers is that Murray is going to come pretty cheap after his injury-plagued season and due to the fact that he hasn't officially been named Minnesota's QB1 just yet. Target him as a low-end QB2 in upcoming drafts with dual-threat upside and bounce-back potential.
Jul 2, 2026 11:22 AM EST
Is Kyler Murray a Redraft Sleeper Entering 2026?
Entering 2026, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray is in need of a career reboot. The 28-year-old missed 12 games in 2025 with a foot injury, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he's missed at least six games. Murray's production has also been in gradual decline since his peak years in 2020 and 2021, which led him to sign a massive contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals. As he enters his first year with Minnesota, Murray is currently competing for the QB1 role with incumbent Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While McCarthy is a former first-round draft pick, he completed just 57.6% of his passes and threw 12 interceptions across 12 starts for the Vikings in 2025. If Murray can win the starting job, he'll be working with one of the league's better play-callers in Kevin O'Connell and throwing to an elite trio of wide receivers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. Murray also brings dual-threat upside for fantasy managers, as he's just a season removed from rushing for 572 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games for the Cardinals in 2024. Murray's profile obviously carries significant risk, but his current redraft ADP of QB17 may not be accurately capturing his upside.
Jun 22, 2026 8:58 AM EST
Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Sharing Reps
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy are splitting up first-team reps to begin camp. Murray is currently the favorite to win the starting job, but the Vikings aren't going to hand him the job. The expectation is that the Vikings are going to give both quarterbacks a fair chance during the preseason. Murray has mentioned that the most difficult part for him so far has been transitioning to a new roster while splitting up the reps. It's not an ideal situation, but the Vikings need to evaluate what they have in both quarterbacks before picking a starter. Murray is a seven-year veteran, so the experience alone will likely be enough to earn him the starting role in Week 1.
Jun 9, 2026 5:46 PM EST
Kyler Murray Offers Clear Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal After Offseason Change of Scenery
Veteran quarterback Kyler Murray's time with the Arizona Cardinals came to an ugly end in 2025, as he struggled across five starts before suffering a foot injury that ultimately ended his season. However, the 28-year-old is healthy and ready to go entering 2026, and he landed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings over the offseason. While Murray is nominally in a quarterback competition with J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, the widely held expectation is that Murray will assume the team's QB1 role. With the Vikings, Murray will work with a play-caller in Kevin O'Connell who has orchestrated multiple successful quarterback reclamation projects. Murray also has a pair of excellent wide receivers to throw to in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. While Murray's career has taken a turn for the worse in recent seasons, he still carries high-end dual-threat fantasy upside. Across 17 games in 2024, Murray threw for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 572 yards and five scores. If he can stay on the field in 2026, he has a golden opportunity to revitalize his career with the Vikings.
May 29, 2026 10:29 AM EST
Kyler Murray a Zero-Risk Dynasty Target?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray remains somewhat of an unknown commodity in dynasty leagues following his offseason change of scenery. After being released by the Cardinals, Murray signed a one-year deal with the Vikings to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback role. So far, it has been hard to gain much insight into the quarterback competition. On one hand, McCarthy is the incumbent starter. On the other hand, the Vikings actively went out and signed Murray, so we know that Kevin O'Connell has confidence in starting him if needed. McCarthy is coming off an ugly season in Minnesota, but the same can be said of Murray in Arizona. We may be looking at a lesser of two evils situation here, as both quarterbacks are grasping for the opportunity to start meaningful football games. Murray made five starts before missing the rest of the 2025 season due to injury. The former No. 1 pick finished last year with 962 passing yards, 173 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns, and four total turnovers. He was the QB17 in fantasy football from Week 1-5, so he'd likely rank in a similar range if named the Vikings' starter. Having Justin Jefferson would boost his fantasy value, but more importantly, his output would hinge on his ability to stay mobile and rush for yards. Given that Murray was quite literally cut loose during the middle of a $230.5 contract, it's safe to say that his football outlook is approaching rock bottom. As a result, he can be acquired in dynasty leagues at a very minimal cost. Quarterback-needy dynasty managers should entertain the idea of acquiring Murray. If it doesn't pan out, then you've lost a late-round rookie pick, or the equivalent; no big deal. If it does pan out, you're left with a multi-year fantasy starter, and it only cost you a negligible pick.
Apr 18, 2026 8:03 AM EST
Kyler Murray's Dynasty Value Gets New Life With Move to Minnesota
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's (foot) fantasy football value in dynasty/keeper leagues was trending down in recent years and fell to a low point in 2025, when he appeared in just five games due to a sprained foot. The 28-year-old former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma threw for just 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 173 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Despite injury-riddled seasons in two of the last three years, Murray should enter training camp this summer as the slight favorite to win the starting duties in Minnesota over J.J. McCarthy. If Murray stays healthy and plays up to his abilities (primarily as a rusher for fantasy purposes), he will have the weapons in Minnesota to become a favorite for Comeback Player of the Year in 2026. A fresh start in a new city could be just what the doctor ordered for Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler in 2020 and 2021, especially with a QB guru as head coach in Kevin O'Connell. If Murray ends up winning the QB job, he'll have QB1 upside in single-year fantasy leagues.
Mar 28, 2026 3:27 PM EST
Vikings Sign Kyler Murray to a One-Year Deal
The Minnesota Vikings have signed free agent quarterback Kyler Murray to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. The deal includes a clause that says Murray cannot be assigned a franchise tag or transition tag next offseason. He'll be paid $36.8 million in 2026, but the bulk of that will come from the Arizona Cardinals' payroll. Minnesota will only be on the hook for the league minimum amount. Murray, a former No. 1 overall pick, is coming off a disappointing seventh and final season in Arizona. Injuries limited him to just five starts last year, and he only produced 962 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also had 173 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. It was a weird end to Murray's tenure with the Cardinals, as he was technically on IR with a season-ending injury but may have simply been benched for Jacoby Brissett. Regardless of the actual reason, the bottom line is that the Cardinals and Murray went their separate ways this offseason, leading the quarterback to sign with Minnesota. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has repeatedly been praised for his ability to identify successful quarterback reclamation projects, but it's far from guaranteed that Murray will be able to bounce back. In fact, he's not even a lock to earn playing time. Incumbent starter and former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will presumably compete with Murray in a wide-open position battle during training camp.
Mar 12, 2026 2:37 PM EST
Kyler Murray to Visit With Vikings on Thursday
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) will visit with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Minnesota is offering a starting spot as they look to challenge first-round QB J.J. McCarthy, and a deal with Murray could be finalized in the next 24 hours. However, Murray and his representatives are also expected to explore several options as a backup in 2026 for teams that could need a starting signal-caller in 2027. The Vikings are the 28-year-old Murray's best chance for a starting gig right away and to rehab his fantasy football value after he played in only five games in 2025 due to a foot sprain. Injuries have been an issue for the former No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma, but when healthy, he offers plenty of dual-threat abilities and would have a strong WR duo to work with in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. If Murray signs with the Vikings, he'll be one of the most obvious QB bounce-back candidates in the NFL.
Mar 11, 2026 5:01 PM EST
Kyler Murray Officially Released by the Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals officially released quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Murray is "at or near the top" of the Minnesota Vikings' QB wish list this offseason as they look to pair a veteran to push young signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. Murray's fantasy football stock is way down after he missed the final 12 games of the 2025 season in Arizona due to a foot sprain he suffered in Week 5. The 28-year-old former first overall selection in 2019 out of Oklahoma wasn't in sync before his injury, either, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three picks in five games started. Despite his poor final season in Arizona, Murray will be attractive to teams looking for a cheap and experienced option at the position, as the Cardinals are paying the $38.8 million guarantees still owed to him. If Minnesota adds Murray and he wins the starting gig over McCarthy, he'd be a clear QB2 bounce-back candidate.
Mar 11, 2026 12:20 PM EST
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